Lewes

Lewes' population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 98,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Lewes increased by 5.8%, from almost 92,200 to 97,500.

The addition of about 5,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Lewes was home to, on average, 2.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Lewes

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Lewes increased by two years, from 43 to 45 years.

This coastal area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 14% of people in Lewes are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Lewes by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

This area saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, Wealden saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 8.2% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2011).

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.2%) households in Lewes had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 7.8% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 26% to 26%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

This area saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

Across the region, only Rother (from 10% to 13%) and Folkestone and Hythe (from 12% to 14%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

During this period, Lewes went from having the 23rd-highest to the 16th-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 and over in Lewes said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55% to 50%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Lewes

The number of people in Lewes that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 17,000 in 2001 to just under 32,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 18% to 32% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Lewes that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 66,000 in 2001 to about 56,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 57%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,600 to about 8,000. Both of these figures represented about 8.2% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

Just over 600 people (0.4%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 370 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Lewes increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Lewes by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Lewes, but at a slower rate than in nearby Brighton and Hove.

In Lewes, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 78% in 2001 to 73% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Brighton and Hove decreased from 61% to 53%.

Across the South East, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 67%.

Private renting in Lewes increased from 8.6% to 14%, while the rate of social housing remained close to 11%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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